We’re always reminding you that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to break the bank. How about some expert tips to back that up? We polled nutrition experts across the country for their best tips for eating smart and exercising on a budget.

Brown Bag It
Our September Brown Bag Challenge was a huge success. If you missed it, it’s never too late to start bringing your lunch to work or school. Annette Schottenfeld, MBA, RD, CDN, President of Nett Nutrition, Inc. says:

“Packing your own lunch not only saves money, but also guarantees much needed nutrition to get you through the day. Select lean meats and veggies on whole grain bread with a side of seasonal fruit for a delicious and satisfying lunch. Additional savings can also be had by making your own single-serve snack bags.”

“Wrap leftovers into single-serve portions immediately after dinner. Not only will you save money because you’re not throwing out perfectly good food, you’ll have a single serve, healthy homemade meal in the freezer waiting for you next time you have no time to cook.”

Shop Smart
How you grocery shop can make or break your budget. Start by making a shopping list and sticking to it. Jessica Fishman Levinson, MS, RD, CDN, founder of Nutritioulicious reminds us not to forget good old coupons:

“Don’t be shy to use coupons when shopping. But be careful – just because you get a coupon for something doesn’t mean it’s a healthy item. Many people are enticed by coupons for less healthy foods that they wouldn’t normally buy.”

“The more simple and unprocessed a food, the less expensive—and more healthful—it is, typically. That’s because it requires less food production to get from farm to fork. Less production steps mean less money and resources went into that food, which means a lower price at the check-out.”

“Some of the very best options we have are in the INNER AISLES of the grocery store: Canned sardines, anchovies, pink salmon, mussels, clams and oysters are relatively cheap and are available nearly everywhere and to everyone at all economic levels. Make a salmon burger or a salmon melt from canned salmon or mash 2 sardines into your favorite tomato sauce recipe to add a hefty dose of flavor and nutrition to your next pasta night. Frozen fish filets are usually significantly cheaper than fresh, and when they go on sale you can load up your freezer: No waste, no spoilage”

“Focus on getting your nutrition from food, not supplements. Place more emphasis on food, rather than nutrients. By choosing whole foods naturally high in nutrients you should be able to get your daily needs from food alone. Supplements can be expensive (and sorry to say, a waste of money).”

Spice Things Up
The right seasoning can make all the difference for a light but flavorful meal. Kait Fortunato uses spices to liven up her meals on the cheap:

“You can buy cheaper cuts of meat and spice it correctly to create unique flavor. Spices last a long time and are healthier than dressings or marinades.”

Where’s the Beef?Beth Stark RD, LDN uses this tip to cut down on money and bulk up portions:

“I replace some of the meat in my favorite recipes with drained and rinsed canned beans in order to stretch portions, reduce cost and boost the nutrient quality of the dish. I add black or pinto beans to enchiladas and taco meat, cannellini beans to lean ground turkey for pasta and meat sauce and extra kidney beans to chili.”
You can also save by ditching meat all together once a week – opt for Meatless Mondays.

Move It
Let’s not forget about exercise. There are plenty of ways to burn calories without burning cash.

Sheila Campbell PhD, RD points out the importance of having someone else hold you accountable:

“Get an exercise buddy. You are accountable to your buddy to show up when and where you promised and to exercise for the time you agreed on.”

“Exercise classes at a gym can empty your pockets quickly. A budget-friendly solution is to borrow exercise DVD’s from your local library. Other options are starting a DVD swap with friends and rotating with each other for a greater selection. You can also check out your cable guide for classes to take at home on your own TV. No gym or studio needed!”

“Visit your local park or playground; admission is free! Not only will you and your family be able to participate in calorie-shedding activities such as walking, hiking and cross country skiing, but parks are also a wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends, make new ones and bond with your family. Being active outdoors lifts your mood, helps you think more positively and feel more internal calm thus reducing your stress level.”

Get Baking
Pound for pound, store-bought baked goods can be some of the priciest items in your kitchen. Sherri Nordstrom Stastny, PhD, RD, CSSD, LD says:

“Dig out your bread machine. Making bread from scratch is a huge cost saving (and tastes better) than store-bought bread.”

Don’t have a bread machine? You can get a decent one for less than $75 and you can recoup that money after a couple of months of buying less commercially-prepared breads. You can also save moo-lah buy storing bread in the freezer — when lightly toasted you’d never know the difference, but you will notice that you’re wasting less bread.